Last year it was $136 million. Probably slightly higher this year.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

After 2 years would be more fair. This year's class is very underwhelming compared to next year's.

Yeah, that's not a reasonable expectation this year

I mean, to spend enough to raise the payroll 96 million. That would be Lester, Scherzer and then 40 milllion more.

I guess it could be done, but I dont think this year's FA really call for that. (As Kwood pointed out)

Only good teams who are serious about winning have high payrolls.





Note: White Sox payroll is currently lower than the Cubs.

I wouldnt say they were in big time on Tanaka

Anyway, I dont think you call this a failure. I mean, you have to be reasonable with the money lest you end up with a Soriano situation of bidding against yourself[/quote]

I believe I could pull up some quotes that included the words "all in" regarding Tatanka negotiations.

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And men have lost their reason.

Why isn't it reasonable? Not only are they one of the biggest market teams around, but they also have all the money they saved the last 3 years that is supposedly going to be spent.

Top 8 this year. Top 5 soon after.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I don't care that Martin went North, especially for that money, but want to make sure Theo isnt selling the "Part of the future" and looking for a discount for that,

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I believe I could pull up some quotes that included the words "all in" regarding Tatanka negotiations.[/quote]
Dont be coy. GM's say a lot of things.

True. The Sox need to get to right around 12th this year. Top 10 would be ideal. Otherwise, they don't care about winning.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Well for one, they can't spend it on positional players considering Catcher is really the open spot and it was technically filled. And just because you CAN sign Lester and Max, doesn't mean you should. The idea that they should be spending just to spend is a bad one, and an obvious troll too.

Can I respond to you or are you going to get upset again?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I'll probably get annoyed that you are trolling and don't even believe what you are saying. Despite that, I'll then respond once or twice and then stop when you start arguing something else completely unrelated to the initial topic.

So that is a no.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Its reasonable if were starting from scratch but were not. They have a low payroll. To spend just to get it to that level would include foolish spending.

So its just not feasible. I agree in general they should always be top ten, but I dont think they will or should get there this year


Plus, spending is not the goal, winning is. If a lot of the young guys work out, you cant fault a team for having good players at reasonable (rookie) contracts.

The Cubs have two all stars (Castro and Rizzo) in the infield at a bargain price of 11 million dollars
You cant fault them for that.

For example, what if Baez figures it out and Bryant is good? Now you have 4 of your 8 positions locked in at about 15 million dollars. Is that a bad thing?

I want them to spend smartly. The goal is to be like the Cardinals.

There is no Plan B.

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<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

what makes you FOR the Cubs acquiring him on a 5 year deal?

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There is no salary cap, and supposedly all the money "saved" while they were bad is available. They should be the dominant team in free agency the next two years if that is true. Only the Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers should be outspending them.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Well, the Cubs seemingly were very interested. I'm no talking about this individual move. It is more of a general thing. If they passed on overpaying him so they could overpay someone else then it's no big deal. If they passed on overpaying so they could simply have less in salary then it's a shame given all the talk about how the money they "saved" would be used for future payroll.

The Cubs should be willing to spend a lot of money, especially with how much they saved the past few years. I'd be mad if I were a Cubs fan and a team with this much talent still had a payroll that doesn't match with the financial resources of a team like the Cubs.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Why not the White Sox?

I disagree with that. I dont even think that is the best way to win.

I think they should be top ten-ish but if they have a bunch of young guys locked up at good prices, that's a good thing.

So what do you do with the reasonable priced all stars? Trade them for guys that cost more in the name of being Big Market?

5 years for a catcher that may have peaked? no thanks.

They just need to sign a backup that can actually hit just a little bit.

I rather see them spend that money on inf and of help plus some sp.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

They don't make as much money as the Cubs, but they are also cheap and they better expand payroll greatly this year too. It's way too low also.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Bench Alcantara and Soler for Michael Cuddyer & Torii Hunter!

Huh? You keep them and spend the money in other places.

That is the advantage of having good young players. They are cheaper and you can afford to get other people.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

These should be the average salaries of these guys for the next three years
Soler- 4 million
Rizzo- 6 million
Castro- 7.5 million
Russell- 1.5 million
Baez- 1.5 million
Bryant- 1.5 million


You might have 6 positions filled for 20 million dollars

Are you saying the Cubs are so good they don't really need any high priced free agents?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

There are a finite amount of positions. You dont just spend the money in the name of upping the payroll.

If you have 5 or 6 guys under rookie or team friendly deals, its practically impossible to be a top 5 team without massively overpaying for a lot of mediocre pitchers.

Obtuse Rick

Having players locked up at good prices doesnt mean "Good, now let's go overspend on every free agent possible to make sure were top 5 payroll!"

That would be extremely dumb. To get 96 million more on the payroll they'd have to overpay and acquire mediocre players at over market deals.


But you know that, so Ill just move on.

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